Nobody wanted to see the trees go, but the emerald ash borer has doomed the ash trees. Keep in mind there are more than 300 ash trees in Southwood Park alone. There will be many dead ash trees along our streets and in our yards. Once you know how to spot an infected tree, you will notice others seemingly everywhere.

Fortunately for the Tacoma Avenue project, there will be replacement trees planted. UPDATE/CORRECTION: The trees will be planted in 2011. Originally I thought this would occur in 2010. Apparently, it will be too late in the year for procurement and planting. – SMc

For the rest of the ash street trees in the neighborhood that are still standing in 2011 (275+ trees), the future prospects for city replacement off the 4600-4700 blocks of Tacoma Avenue doesn’t look so good. A story in the September 17 Journal Gazette reports that beginning in 2011, the City will not have money to replace all the ash trees it needs to remove. Here is the article: Trees get cut from parks budget – Pinch comes as ash borer infests neighborhood stands, by Benjamin Lanka – http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100917/LOCAL/309179964.

Finally, here is a link to two articles from the September Southwood Park News about the emerald ash borer and the Tacoma trees. The articles are on page one: SPN 09.10.

I’m very happy to hear that the city has enough funds this year to replace the trees that were removed along Tacoma. But what about future trees that will have to be removed in Southwood Park?
What about setting up a designated fund in our neighborhood treasury to buy trees? This would insure that our beautiful neighborhood stays wooded. It might also be set up to help individual home owners plant trees (from the city) in our park strips anytime- maybe share the cost 50% homeowner/50 % neighborhood association?

I agree 100% Jill. I sent a letter to the Journal suggesting that individuals and neighborhoods can take on the efforts that the Parks Dept. cannot continue. That is, treat healthy Ash trees to keep them that way and replace the ones we lose OR donate to the Dept’s EAB Trust. Hopefully, now that the issue has some momentum, they’ll publish my letter.